Neva was born 11-11-1905 at Wister, Indian Territory to Ryley
and Ada (Stacey) McAlvain. Ryley’s father, Neva’s grandfather came to
Indian Territory as a mere boy, all alone and settled at Kennedy, Indian
Territory. He had many acres of land under cultivation with corn and
cotton. He was a prominent Choctaw of the vicinity and a man who everybody
loved and respected. He raised a big family of twelve children. Ryley was
the fourth child.

Neva married Clyde Bryan in 1925. Although they lived a few
miles apart, he wrote her almost every day during their courting time. She
still had these letters at the time of her death. The grandchildren still
have them. Neva was always busy and was well known for helping others. She
played the piano. She played it at her church; she played it at funerals,
wherever she was needed.

While out selling magazine subscriptions between Victor and
Summerfield, her “T” Model stalled on the Frisco railroad track and was
hit by the train. She had gotten out but chickens went flying everywhere.
The engineer and conductor knew her, put her on board and brought her to
Wister.

She helped her husband in the cotton gin. She was an expert
paperhanger and wall papered many houses all over LeFlore County. She also
served one term as Leflore County Court Clerk. She was very active in
politics; at one time she was the Democratic Chairman of LeFlore County.
She helped with the March of Dimes. She was a life long member of the “The
Eastern Star”. She was a good cook and loved having big dinners. She would
often stay up all night cooking for one. She worked many years as C.H.R.
for the Choctaw Nation, being in her seventies when she retired. She still
had her land allotment and it remains in the family.

She and Clyde were the parents of three children: Carroll
Bryan (deceased); William Bryan (deceased); and Ada L. Lee. The
grandchildren are: Pamela Epperson, Patricia Epperson, Patricia Donoley,
Peggy McAlester, Elizabeth Taylor, Steven Bryan, John Fannin (deceased),
Kaye Elmore. Bryan Lee (deceased), Brent Lee, and Brenna Lee. Neva loved
her Indian heritage and her people. She was very active and always
attended the McAlvain family reunions, which are held in June each year.
Neva Leon McAlvain attended school at Victor, Oklahoma and passed away in
1993 at Poteau. She was buried at the Maxey Cemetery.